Tail-gate structure



March 19, 1929. Q V, HALLENBECK 1,706,289

TAIL GATE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 25, 1928 2 sheets-sheer l 9' wwntoz [Zen eo Q MN n March 19, I 1929.

.,v. HALLENBECK TAIL GATE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 25, 192s 2 sheets-sheet Patented Mar. i9, 1929.

Uni-ren STAT-ES -QHABLES V-.HALLENBECK .0F B1FLE,.C0LQBAD0- TAIL-earn srnucrunn.

Application lediFebruaiy 25, 17928. Serial No. 256,939.

'lhis invention relates to tail gate structures vand it is an object of the invention to provide means whereby the gate proper may be swung either V'upwardly or downwardly 5 into open position in accordance with the character 1of the load or the preference of practice, together with means whereby the gate is'eifectively' heldpor locked in closed position. V

It is also an v obj ect ofthe invention to provide a tail gate vand a mounting therefor wherein themounting is constructed in a manner to take up any tendency of outward spread of the side walls of the wagon body t 15,. whenthe gate isrnovedinto closed position,

said mountingwhen' thelgate .is closed also serving to prevent .spreading of the wagon body es'PQCllly/ When the' side walls are subiectedteXQesSve Strail- I 2o Vlfiinfrilier object ofjthe invention is to provide fastening meansformaintaining thetail gate inclOSedpQStQln, Said means beine Carriedgby the wagon body and engageable with the eatewhe Cloaei'tesetherlwith .means arranged to one side .ofthe body for operating .the fastening meansand moreespecially to adjust the same into releaseposition.

additionalobjecttof the inventionis to provide a tail gate lhaving'associatedtherewith means for limiting the extent ofthe opening movement of thetail gate lindert-he influence of the load being discharged, thereby enabling effectivecontrol of. such loaddischarged which isjof particular advantage ,when desired to spread the load, .suchy as Vsand,..graveland the like,v,over a given surface.

Cil

The invention @Qnssts .in thedetalsof" constructionand inthe combinationand'arrangement ofthe Several parte ...0f .my 1m- .provedj tail sate atmet-11rd .whereby .Certain Important advantages are attained andthe `device renderedsnnpler, Vless expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, aswill lie-'hereinafter more fully set forth. I, v

lieknovel features of'my invention ,will hereinafter be definitelyelaimed.

ln order Vthat my invention maybe lathe matins an end.. s'atetructure constructed in bet-ter understood, I ,will 110W Proceed .to de.

- vention, the gate proper being in closed posi tion and'portions being broken away;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 Of Figure l, portions of the vehicle body proper being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view'partly in side elevation and partly in section of the structure as herein disclosed,the gate proper being shown in a partly open position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on vthe line 5-'45 of Figuret; V i

*Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially onthe line 6 6 off-Figure 3.

'As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a vehicle body, herein jdisclosed of a type similar to that particularly described and illustrated in an application of a channel formation. The pivot lugs?) lare y welded to ythe gate Gr'l at points within a inember4.,.v,.. fterthe lugs' 3y have been properly engaged between the ears 2, 'said liigsare maintained againstI displacement by the retaining y'pins .5` preferably disposed fromr above through the ears 2 and bridging the spaces therebetween. ln order to prevent loss, each ofthe pins 5 isconnected by' a chain 6 or Y, otheIWseto the body B. The, outer eXtremi-' Htiesfofthe lugs 3 are provided with the heads .7v which are adaited tol have substantially iclose contact Awith the. outer margins of lthe ears 2 at their inner portions whereby is effectively prevented spreading of the body especially when'the sides of VSaid body are ,subjectedto excessive strains.

vThe gate" G iso-f such' dimensions to par tiallyloverlie orjlap thelanges i when the the assembly of the bolts 14.

1,? Extending lengthwise the body B theren gate is in its closed position and said gate atits lower corners is provided with the outstanding and laterally directed ears 8 through each of which is freely directed from without a headed shank 9. This shank 9 is also freelydisposed through an adjacent portion of a flange 1 and engaging opposite facesiof said flange 1 are locking members 10 threaded upon the shank 9.

By adj iisting` the shiinlrs 9 lengthwise the limit of outward swinging' movement of the gate G, with the lugs 3 is a fiilcrun'i, will be .regulated by contact of the gate Gf with the heads 9 of the shanhs 9. By the use of the shanlis 9 and tlieloclring members 1,() threaded thereon, the extent of such outward swing'- ing n'iovenient ofthe gate G maybe controlled to a minute degree. This vis of advantage because, in practice., with the outward swinging movement of the gate being properly limited and with the body B inclined in a predetermined angle, the vehicle may be caused to advance at a speed to assure an even spreading upon a given surface of the load within the body B. This is of iviarticular importance in road construction and in connection with the delivery of sand, gravel or kindred road materials.

One of the strengthening members 4 is disposed along the lower marginal portion of the gate G and welded within the opposite end portions of such member 4 are the barrels 11 which, when the gate is fully closed, register with the barrels 12 welded tothe flanges 1. The barrels 12 provide a mounting for the slidable locking bolts 14 which, when moved' inwardly, are adapted to enter the barrels 11 of the closed gate and thereby effectively hold the gate against opening movement, or to provide pivot members to permit the gate G to be swung downward ly into an open position. lhen this operation is desired, it is only required th at the pins 5 be first removed. lt is also to be understood that upon downward swinging movement of the gate Gr, the shanlrs 9 will also be removed and there are also conditions of operation wherein the shanks 9 will be omitted when the gate is supported or mounted for upward swinging movement.

Each of the bolts14 has its outer extremity continued by :in inwardly disposed arm 15'V which in turnis continued byA an elongatedv arm 16 which is substantially parallel to thel bolt 14 and said arm 16 is preferably directly behind the flange 1 defining the lower or bot tom edge at the tail end ofthe body B so that,

in practice, the arm 16 is'substantiallv entirely concealed from view and there y is thoroughly protected. Each of the-arms 15 is disposed through and moves with the bolt 14 `within a slot 17 provided in an extremity of the bottom flange 1. These slots 17 are preferably open at their outer ends to facilitate below and closely adjacent to one side of the body is a rock shaft 18 supported by asuitable number of bearings 19. The rear end portion of this shaft 18 has fixed thereto for rocking movement therewith afcross head 20. To one end portion of the head 29 is operatively engaged one arm. 16 and to the opposite end portion of said head 2O Ais operatively engaged the second arm 16 so that,iipon requisite roching n'iovenient being imparted to the shaft 18, the hea-d 2O will move ina direction to either simultaneously move the bolts 14 inwardly into locking position, or to move the same outwardly into release position.

At a suitable point tlierealong the shaft 18 has operatively engaged therewith a depend sov ing operating handle or lever 21. By hai'fing the lever 21 disposed downwardly the same may be readily grasped by an operator when the body B is in lowered position but with particular advantage as the body is raised or swung upwardly to a required dumping angle.`

The outer forward corner portions of thev ears 2, hereinbefore referred to, are disposed linwardly on suitable bevels, as at22, to pro vide cam edges with which the'heads 7 of the lugs 3 will contact when the gate is swung upwardly into closed position or in that assembly when'the bolts 14 serve'as the pivot meinbers for the gate. Should ythe sides of the body spread as a resultof abnormal strain being imposed thereon, this contact of the heads 7 with the bevel or cam edges 22 as the gate G is swung into fully closed position will result in said side walls of the body B being forced inwardly or returned to their normal position. This contact also serves to prevent the gate G from `having such vundue lateral or 'transverse movement which would otherwise .probablyV derange the pivotal Vmounting of the gate on the bolts 14.

The bolts; 14 are constantly urged inwardly by a retractile spring 23 one end portionof Y which is secured to an arm 16 and the opposite l end portion anchored to an adjacent flange 1.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a tail gate structure constructedin accordance with lmy inventionfis particularly well adapted for use by reasonfof the convenience and facilitywith which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible Vof some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation ofthe several parts herein shownV inv carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed. Y f Iclaim:- .-1 v

1. .In combination with an end of a wagon body, av tail gate therefor, barrels carriedby the body at opposite sides of the tail Ygate' ieo when closed, bolts slidably supported by said barrels and engageable with the gate when closed upon inward movement or' the bolts to hold the'gate against opening movement, inwardly directed arms Connected with the bolts, a rook shaft supported by the body to one side thereof, a Cross head Carried by the shaft, the varms being operatively connected with the opposite end portions of said head to Cause simultaneous inward or outward movement of the bolts upon rocking movement of the shaft.

2. In Combination with an end of a. wagon body, a tail gate therefor, barrels carried by the body at opposite sides of the tail gate when closed, boltsslidably supported by said barrels and engageable with the gate when Closed upon inward movement of the bolts to hold the gate against opening movement, inwardly directed arms connected with the bolts, a rook shaft supported by the body to one side thereof, a cross head carried by the shaft, the arms being operatively Connected with the opposite end portions of said head to cause simultaneous inward or outward Inovement of the bolts upon rocking movement of the shaft, and means for limiting the outward movement of the tail gate when the bolts are free therefrom.

In testimony whereoil I hereunto affix my signature.

. CHARLES V. I-IALLENBECK. 

